Fall is finally arriving in Arizona — and October is packed with things to do around the Valley. 🍂🎃
Cooler evenings, outdoor festivals, Oktoberfest celebrations, food events, home shows and Halloween fun are all on the calendar this month.
Whether you’re looking for a date night, something fun with the family, or just an excuse to get outside and enjoy the weather, we pulled together 15 events happening throughout the Phoenix metro area in October 2026.
Save this list, send it to a friend, and start planning your October!
🍂 North Valley & Scottsdale Favorites
Taste of Cave Creek — October 14–15
📍 Stagecoach Village | Cave Creek
This one belongs near the top of our list. Taste of Cave Creek returns October 14–15 from 5–9 p.m., bringing together more than 25 local restaurants along with live music, a craft beer garden and plenty of food to sample.
Admission is $15, children 12 and under are free, and food samples are available from participating restaurants.
Taste of Cave Creek event information
Scottsdale Fall Festival — October 17
📍 Scottsdale Civic Center | Scottsdale
Looking for something the entire family can enjoy? The Scottsdale Fall Festival runs from 5–9 p.m. and includes live music, a DJ, food trucks, trick-or-treating, carnival games, arts and crafts, and other activities.
Even better: the event itself is free to attend.
Scottsdale Fall Festival details
Maricopa County Home & Garden Show — October 2–4
📍 WestWorld | Scottsdale
If you’re a homeowner — or you’re gathering ideas for your next house — this is an easy one to spend a few hours exploring.
The final Maricopa County Home & Garden Show of 2026 features hundreds of home-improvement professionals covering remodeling, kitchens and baths, landscaping, roofing, HVAC, flooring, solar and outdoor living. There are also plants, local vendors, workshops and DIY activities.
The show runs 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with free parking at WestWorld.
Maricopa County Home & Garden Show information
🎃 More October Events Around the Valley
October isn’t stopping there. Here are more events worth putting on your radar:
- Oct. 2–4 — Rocktoberfest, SanTan Gardens, Chandler
- Oct. 3 — Fall Fest West, Surprise Stadium, Surprise
- Oct. 8–9 — Life Expo, WestWorld, Scottsdale
- Oct. 9–11 — Four Peaks Brewing Oktoberfest, Tempe Town Lake
- Oct. 10 — Fast & Furriest 5K, Kiwanis Park North Field, Tempe
- Oct. 10 — Uncorked: AZ, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale
- Oct. 18 — Phoenix Greek Festival, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Phoenix
- Oct. 18 — Taco Fest, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale
- Oct. 24 — Wine & Food Experience, High Street, Phoenix
- Oct. 24 — Booze and Brews, Mark Coronado Park, Surprise
- Oct. 24 — The Smoke Show BBQ & Music Fest, Gilbert Regional Park
- Oct. 30–31 — Horseshoe Harvest Hangout, Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre, Queen Creek
Rocktoberfest, for example, is scheduled for October 2–4 at SanTan Gardens with live music, games, contests, craft beer and food, and is promoted as a family-friendly event.
Important: Event dates, times, admission and details can change. Check directly with the event organizer before heading out.
🌵 October Is One of the Best Times to Enjoy Arizona
There’s something about October in the Valley. The worst of the summer heat is finally behind us, patios start filling back up, community events return, and suddenly spending an entire Saturday outside doesn’t sound completely insane.
And that’s one of the things we love about living here.
From Cave Creek and North Phoenix to Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and the West Valley, there’s no shortage of things happening this month.
Which October event are you most excited about?
And if you know of a great local event we missed, drop us a note — we’d love to add more local favorites to future editions.
🏡 Thinking About Making a Move This Fall?
October isn’t just a great time to get outside. It’s also a good time to start planning if buying or selling a home is somewhere on your horizon.
We’ve helped Arizona buyers and sellers through more than 1,000 residential transactions, and we’re always happy to be a resource — whether you’re ready to make a move today or simply have questions about your neighborhood, home value or the current market.
David & Donna Patterson
Patterson Real Estate Group
📞 David: 623-692-6996
📞 Donna: 623-692-6998
🌐 ArizonasPro.com
Know someone thinking about buying or selling? We’d appreciate the introduction.